What a Way to Open Up the Season

Published: Saturday, August 31, 2013 at 2:14 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, August 31, 2013 at 2:14 p.m.

What more could any pigskin fan ask for than what Mississippi and Vanderbilt gave us Thursday night?

It was college football at its finest. It had drama. It had wild comebacks. It had passion. It had heartbreak. It had everything a college football fan could want.

So please tell me that you stayed up to see it. Please tell me that you sacrificed some Z’s to see those last two minutes when three touchdowns were scored.

Please tell me you saw the anguish and then the exhilaration and then more anguish on the faces of those Commodores fans. Please tell me that you didn’t just settle for ESPN leftovers this morning on SportsCenter.

Please tell me that you’re more of a college football fan after that game last night than you were before.

Because if there’s one thing that college football has told us in the past, it’s that games like that come around every so often. That’s why you can’t change that channel on commercial breaks. You never know what you’re going to miss.

And this was just the beginning of Week 1. Welcome back college football.

We’ve missed you.

Now let’s get to some predictions.

Toledo rockets in to Gainesville to take on No. 10 Florida. The Gators need to develop some rhythm in the passing game, but they’ll probably be up by plenty late, so the running game will be getting the majority of the work. Florida 45, Toledo 17.

Pittsburgh’s welcome into the ACC comes with a home game against No. 11 Florida State. Seminoles fans will get to see how good Jameis Winston is or isn’t.

Well, he is, and Pitt isn’t. FSU 55, Pitt 7.

Locally, Warner will travel to Stetson for the program’s first game. I’m going to be there for this historic contest. However, I don’t think it’ll be much of a game.

Stetson 40, Warner 6.

Webber will make an eight-hour trip to Faulkner (Ala.) University. The Warriors are deep, but I’m not sure they can handle the Eagles’ aerial attack. Faulkner 35, Webber 24.

In other state games: Maryland over FIU 27-13; Robert Morris will beat Ave Maria 45-10; Bethune-Cookman will take care of Tennessee State 31-14; and Mississippi Valley State will take down Florida A&M 24-20.

My game of the week has got to be No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 8 Clemson. Both teams are going to need to win to get away from the critics. For Georgia, its defense will be tested by the explosive offense led by Tigers quarterback Tajh Boyd. For Clemson, they’ll have to find a way to contain the Bulldogs’ own top-flight field general in Aaron Murray. First one to 100 wins? Well, maybe not. Georgia 45, Clemson 42.

Now for my season predictions.

The Heisman Trophy will not go to Jadeveon Clowney, even though he’s the best player in college football. Look for Braxton Miller of Ohio State to take it home.

And if Braxton Miller does win the Heisman, you can bet Ohio State will be in the national title game. And we all know Urban Meyer knows how to beat SEC teams. Ohio State will be your national champion.

<p>What more could any pigskin fan ask for than what Mississippi and Vanderbilt gave us Thursday night?</p><p>It was college football at its finest. It had drama. It had wild comebacks. It had passion. It had heartbreak. It had everything a college football fan could want.</p><p>So please tell me that you stayed up to see it. Please tell me that you sacrificed some Z's to see those last two minutes when three touchdowns were scored.</p><p>Please tell me you saw the anguish and then the exhilaration and then more anguish on the faces of those Commodores fans. Please tell me that you didn't just settle for ESPN leftovers this morning on SportsCenter.</p><p>Please tell me that you're more of a college football fan after that game last night than you were before.</p><p>Because if there's one thing that college football has told us in the past, it's that games like that come around every so often. That's why you can't change that channel on commercial breaks. You never know what you're going to miss.</p><p>And this was just the beginning of Week 1. Welcome back college football.</p><p>We've missed you.</p><p>Now let's get to some predictions.</p><p>Toledo rockets in to Gainesville to take on No. 10 Florida. The Gators need to develop some rhythm in the passing game, but they'll probably be up by plenty late, so the running game will be getting the majority of the work. Florida 45, Toledo 17.</p><p>Pittsburgh's welcome into the ACC comes with a home game against No. 11 Florida State. Seminoles fans will get to see how good Jameis Winston is or isn't.</p><p>Well, he is, and Pitt isn't. FSU 55, Pitt 7.</p><p>Locally, Warner will travel to Stetson for the program's first game. I'm going to be there for this historic contest. However, I don't think it'll be much of a game.</p><p>Stetson 40, Warner 6.</p><p>Webber will make an eight-hour trip to Faulkner (Ala.) University. The Warriors are deep, but I'm not sure they can handle the Eagles' aerial attack. Faulkner 35, Webber 24.</p><p>In other state games: Maryland over FIU 27-13; Robert Morris will beat Ave Maria 45-10; Bethune-Cookman will take care of Tennessee State 31-14; and Mississippi Valley State will take down Florida A&M 24-20.</p><p>My game of the week has got to be No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 8 Clemson. Both teams are going to need to win to get away from the critics. For Georgia, its defense will be tested by the explosive offense led by Tigers quarterback Tajh Boyd. For Clemson, they'll have to find a way to contain the Bulldogs' own top-flight field general in Aaron Murray. First one to 100 wins? Well, maybe not. Georgia 45, Clemson 42.</p><p>Now for my season predictions.</p><p>The Heisman Trophy will not go to Jadeveon Clowney, even though he's the best player in college football. Look for Braxton Miller of Ohio State to take it home.</p><p>And if Braxton Miller does win the Heisman, you can bet Ohio State will be in the national title game. And we all know Urban Meyer knows how to beat SEC teams. Ohio State will be your national champion.</p>